Introduction

At certain times, the Holy Spirit will emphasize specific truths to God’s people. One such reality I believe being spotlighted is the Priesthood of believers. In this teaching lesson, we will learn what His priesthood is and is not, and what our priestly responsibilities and functions entail.

As believers, we show unbelievers the heart of Jesus. But as priests, we show believers the heart of the Father. Priests are ministers unto God Himself. A priesthood is, therefore, the entire collection of priests who render services to the Lord. While those in the Lord are all priests, many are not functioning as such. When we develop the Father’s heart, we can begin to effectively function in our priestly duties to Him.

False priesthoods today

Jesus said we cannot put new wine into old wineskins, lest the old wineskins burst, and the wine gets ruined (Matthew 2:22). He was revealing that old covenant structures (the wineskin) cannot be used for new covenant substances (the wine).

Any attempt of co-existence will cause immediate dysfunction.

Jesus statement goes well beyond the current “law versus grace” topic. It addresses the bigger and real underlying problem on a systems-wide level.  Namely, the priesthood systems and structures currently in operation.

Please know that my assignment is to use God’s truth against specific false priesthood systems, not the people within them. God is full of grace and love. He can and will continue to operate through imperfection to build up His church and bring His redeemed to the knowledge of the truth.  However, in stating that, having biblical structures present will only accelerate His purposes.

There are many false priestly structures existing today. Many attempt to bring into the new covenant aspects from the old which God has already obsoleted.

Below are a few false systems in place:

Catholicism: Catholicism operates within a highly unbiblical priestly structure. A Levitical style priesthood was adopted and introduced into the catholic church during the time of Constantine. It also patterned itself after the Roman ruling hierarchy. Shortly afterward, the Roman Catholic Priest system emerged. The people of God were then placed into two classes – priests, and non-priests. Bishops ordain certain catholic priests based on educational credentials while claiming unbroken apostolic succession.

Out of this false priestly structure came demonic doctrines for priests, such as the requirement for celibacy. The Holy Spirit, knowing the future, revealed this would happen in the later times to Paul:

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, … 3 who forbid marriage… (1Ti 4:1, 3 NASB20)

Another demonic doctrine within the Catholic priestly structure is the belief that its priests are mediators between God and man. It claims the priest is “another Christ”, God’s chosen instrument of salvation for others. However, the scriptures make it very clear that there are no priestly mediators anymore. In the new Covenant, there is only one mediator and only one chosen instrument of salvation, the man Christ Jesus:

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. (1 Timothy 2:5-6 NASB)

Shortly after the formation of Catholicism came the dark ages for the Church – where the roman catholic system dominated everything from politics to art and education. 

The reformation Martin Luther began aimed to correct these errors and liberate people with truth. He advocated for the priesthood of ALL believers. The goal was not to eliminate the priests, but to expand it to include everyone.  In this respect, we must continue the reformation Martin Luther began. It is truth that set men free. God desires we continue to deconstruct these false priesthoods and partner with Him to operate within His correctly.

Mormonism (Latter-Day Saints): In the LDS church, only male members who turn 16 are eligible to become priests after an interview with the bishop.  Much like Catholicism, their structure/system mirrors that of the Levitical priesthood also. From their website: “Our heavenly Father shares His priesthood power in a limited way with worthy male members of the Mormon Church”.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  All whom the Lord redeems are priests.  This includes women, children, sons, daughters, young men, and old men.  It is Christ’s blood alone that qualifies us – nothing or no one else.

The Clergy and Laity: It may come as a surprise to many, but many formal protestant churches are applying an unbiblical priestly structure. While Catholicism divides people into “priests and non-priests”, many denominations divide people into “clergyman and layman”.  Clergy are so-called ministers while laymen are not.

However, to put it plainly, the distinction of clergy versus laity is not a new covenant distinction.

“Clergyman” is an invented term which sadly attempts to split the Lord’s priesthood into two classes of people.  While various functions do indeed exist, scripture is clear that all are clergy. All have been made ministers to serve in the Body (Ephesians 2:10).

All God’s people are chosen, all are priests, all are holy, and all are His possession:

But you are A CHOSEN PEOPLE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR [GOD’S] OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (1Pe 2:9 NASB20)

The clergy and laity distinction is conceptually modelled after the old Levitical priesthood. As a result, a very popular doctrine attached to it is the “paying of tithes and offerings”.  Tithing is old wineskin. It is an activity derived from the Levitical priesthood structure which the Lord obsoleted.

It was well understood with the early church that the tithe was only linked to: (1) the Levitical priesthood, (2) the physical temple, (3) the law of Moses. After the Lord replaced all three with better promises, He did not relink the tithe back to His New Covenant Priesthood. To make inference that the tithe, which by law could only go to the priests of Levi, now goes to a select group of Christ’s ministers under the New Covenant is unbiblical. Who made us the “new Levites”? It surely wasn’t the Lord.

Priests, as mediators of covenants, were the only people God authorized to receive tithes (Melchizedek pre-law, and the Levitical priesthood during the law).

Because Jesus Christ is the only New Covenant High Priest and the only authorized mediator today between God and man (Hebrews 8:6, 1 Timothy 2:5), no one on earth can and should be asking for tithes. Doing so is inadvertently setting up a false priesthood within the body of Christ and indirectly implies that ministers are mediators. God forbid! For this reason, the Holy Spirit did not mention anything in the scriptures post-resurrection instructing saints to tithe. It is strange that the Body of Christ continues to emphasize something so frequently and strongly which the Holy Spirit nor any early church apostle ever did – not even once.

In short, obligatory tithing under the old covenant has been replaced with freely giving by grace under the new covenant.  However, grace requires more, not less. So, the abolishment of the tithe laws did not lower the standard for giving – it raised it.

Expanding further on the tithe is outside today’s lesson.  If interested, you can read this teaching lesson on Old Covenant Tithing versus New Covenant Giving.

Wherever false priesthoods are active in the Church of the Living God, we can be sure that disorder, disability (the lack of grace), and carnality are present.  Attempting to operate an assembly under an unbiblical priesthood system is like attempting to operator a motor vehicle on water rather than gasoline.  Doing so will severely impact the very heart of the vehicle – the engine.  I sense that these false priestly systems currently in operation are hurting the Father’s heart and in many ways hindering the Church from accelerating forward along His chosen path for her.

In most cases, they were strategic moves of the enemy to supplant the true for a counterfeit.

So, what does God’s true priesthood entail?

The New Covenant Priesthood

In the Lord’s Kingdom, there are two primary systems (organized frameworks) that exist. Each have distinct purposes:

1. A governmental system with kings, powers, delegates, and authorities
2. A priesthood system with priests, sacrifices, and offerings

After Christ died, was buried, resurrected, and ascended, He passed through the Heavens and into the Holy of Holies (Hebrews 4:14) where He now rules over both systems/structures.  God’s government is resting upon the Lord’s shoulders (Isaiah 9:6) while He also is interceding for us as our High Priest (Hebrews 7:25).

The bulk of Christ’s ministry has been priestly intercession. To put this in context, His earthly ministry was only three and a half years long. But, His heavenly ministry of high priestly intercession has been going on for nearly 2000 years now!

God’s priesthood is central to the Lord’s redemptive plan on earth as He brings His Body into full maturity and the unity of the faith.  

God’s people are not just a priesthood, we are a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). This means that we, like Him, have been made to function in parallel as kings and priests to the Father.

And has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him [be] glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Rev 1:6 NKJV)

God’s priesthood from the old to the new changed at the Cross. He signified to the world this change in two ways:

1. When Christ was crucified, the veil of the temple was torn.

And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom… (Mat 27:51 NASB20)

Why would God do this? To teach us that the way to God was now through the sacrifice and offering of our High Priest Christ Jesus.

2. The destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. physically dismantled the structure of the old covenant temple and priestly operations. Not only did it become obsolete in the Spirit, in was obsoleted physically in the earth.

What does God require of us as His priests?

Our Priestly Functions

The primary function of priests is to offer spiritual sacrifices unto God. Christ Jesus is building up His spiritual house on earth so that His priesthood can grow in its ministry to God the Father:

You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1Pe 2:5 NASB20)

As priests, the sacrifices we offer which are acceptable and pleasing to God are three-fold. We are called to offer up: 1) our praise, 2) our possessions, & 3) our bodies.

1. Our praise – Praise is viewed by God as a priestly sacrifice. When we offer our lips, adoration, and focus to the Lord we are sacrificing our own desires in those moments.

Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Heb 13:15-16 NASB20)

2. Our possessions – When we share our possessions with those in need, it becomes an acceptable sacrifice unto the Lord. Paul revealed this to the church at Philippi after they supplied his needs:

But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. (Phl 4:18 NASB20)

3. Our bodies (lives) – Christ, as our high Priest, offered His physical flesh up as a living and holy sacrifice for us. We are called to crucify our flesh (sinful tendencies) daily. This entails not succumbing to temptations by God’s help. Each time we reject the impulse to sin in various situations, it is received as an acceptable sacrifice and worship unto God:

Therefore I urge you, brothers [and sisters,] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, [which is] your spiritual service of worship. (Rom 12:1 NASB20)

Your sacrifices ascend upward

Under the old Levitical priesthood when the priests would approach the Temple altar to minister, they would offer up in smoke a fire sacrifice to the Lord.  When the sacrifice was burned on the altar together with incense, the fragrance would ascend upward in the Holy of Holies.

God instituted this to show us a picture of what happens around God’s throne when new covenant priests minister to Him. Today, when we offer up spiritual sacrifices to the Lord, they ascend and mix with incense at His altar. They then come up as a memorial and pleasing aroma before God’s presence and throne.

In Acts, an angel of God revealed this reality to a gentile centurion from Caesarea:

And he looked at him intently and became terrified, and said, “What is it, lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and charitable gifts (possessions) have ascended as a memorial offering before God. (Act 10:4 NASB20)

Apparently, the sacrificial giving of this man became an offering which mixed with incense that came up before the Ancient of Days.

Conclusion

The Lord, as our High Priest, is building His Church into a priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices to the Father. Several counterfeit priestly systems exist today which are causing division among God’s people. Many of these incorporate aspects of the Levitical Priesthood which God has obsoleted.  However, there is a real and true priesthood in operation. We are called to stand as priests before the Lord, ministering and offering to Him our praise, possessions to meet the needs of His people, and our sanctified bodies to be used for His service.